Paspalum peckii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 72–82 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or conduplicate; 14–30 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; arcuate; unilateral; 6–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 2 mm wide; with scattered hairs; scabrous on margins. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; concavo-convex; 2.7 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one to two the lower present in some spikelets; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0–0.5 length of spikelet; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 5 -veined; concave across back; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.